Ethics panel investigating Rep. Aaron Schock

U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock speaks Aug. 29, 2012 during the Illinois GOP delegation breakfast before the third day of the Republican National Convention. (Brian Cassella)

WASHINGTON — — News that Rep. Aaron Schock is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee casts a cloud of suspicion over a lawmaker who entered Congress in 2009 as its youngest member and has since built a national profile.

The conservative Peoria congressman sits on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee and serves as a deputy Republican whip, meaning he helps corral GOP lawmakers on votes.

He also has gained notice for flaunting his six-pack abs on the cover of Men's Health magazine and posing for a fashion shoot in GQ.

Now he is under scrutiny over possible violation of House rules, but the ethics panel declined Friday to make public what it is investigating.

That appeared to be a reference to reports that Schock solicited a $25,000 contribution from Majority Leader Eric Cantor's political action committee to help fund a super PAC that successfully backed Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., in a March primary against another Republican incumbent, Don Manzullo.

The Federal Election Commission is examining that conduct because federal officeholders may seek a maximum donation of $5,000 for a super PAC.

Ethics officials would not discuss whether the super PAC was a focus of the investigation — or the sole focus. Schock also has come under scrutiny over his spending of campaign money for meals and hotels. Dutton said, however, the probe had nothing to do with Schock's campaign spending, including a hotel bill from Greece that was reported this year by a watchdog group.

After Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington detailed Schock's use of campaign dollars, he reimbursed his war chest for a $1,136 stay in 2009 at the Hotel Grande Bretagne, a luxury hotel in Athens. Federal election law does not allow the use of campaign money for vacations.

At the time of CREW's disclosure, Schock aide Steven Shearer called payment for the Greek hotel a "mistake." He said a credit card receipt for the hotel had erroneously been "included with a stack of other legitimate campaign expenses."

Single and telegenic, Schock was no political neophyte when he became a congressman at age 27. The Republican cut his teeth at age 19 on the Peoria school board, later becoming its president, before winning election to the Illinois General Assembly.

He is a reliable Republican vote in Congress, saying no to the $800 billion stimulus, President Barack Obama's health care overhaul and the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy for gay service members.

Schock coasted to a third term in the House in last month's election, capturing 74 percent of the vote against Democrat Steve Waterworth.

The top lawmakers on the House Ethics Committee, in making their disclosure Friday, revealed that an outside group, the Office of Congressional Ethics, on Aug. 30 gave the committee information about Schock. Noting that they were not indicating a violation had occurred, the lawmakers said they had "decided to extend the matter" involving Schock and would say more by Jan. 28.

Behind the cryptic language, this is known: When the office opens a review, it can look at the matter and decide there's nothing to it. Or it can send information about a possible misdeed to the ethics panel for a look. Within 45 days of receiving word from the office about a potential violation, the committee has to announce that it has received a referral. The committee can vote to extend the matter for another 45 days, but ultimately, the findings of the Office of Congressional Ethics may be made public.

Five Republicans and five Democrats sit on the ethics panel, which operates largely in secret. The committee may subpoena documents and witnesses and compel testimony under oath. Lawmakers found in violation of House rules are subject to a letter of reproval, fine, reprimand, censure or expulsion.

Schock's office, in an email to the Tribune, declared: "We remain confident that this matter will be resolved positively."